American Express® named Leading Partner of Brighton Pride 2016

American Express, the City’s largest private sector employer, was today named a Leading Partner of Brighton Pride Weekend, taking place from 5-7 August 2016. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community event has become the UK’s biggest Pride festival with 290,000 people participating in the celebrations across the city last year.

This year’s event, themed ‘Carnival of Diversity: Uniting Nations’ is expected to attract huge numbers of participants, spectators and visitors from across Sussex and further afield. As in previous years, American Express employees will be participating in the LGBT Community Pride Parade and getting into the carnival spiritlining the route with family members and friends.

The financial services company is a proud supporter of the LGBT community. The American Express Pride employee network was named Network of the Year 2015, by The British LGBT Awards, in recognition of its work promoting diversity and inclusion inside the organisation and within the local community.

Mike Whyte, Vice President, Merchant Services American Express said: “We are immensely proud to be continuing our partnership with Brighton Pride and supporting their incredible work. We’re looking forward to being part of what promises to be another spectacular showcase of Brighton’s diverse community.”

Last year’s event broke all fundraising targets, raising a record breaking £100,000 for LGBT and HIV organisations and good causes across Sussex. Beneficiaries included Allsorts Youth Project, Lunch Positive, LGBT Community Safety Forum, MindOut, Peer Action and Clare Project.

Paul Kemp, Brighton Pride Community Interest Company, said: “Brighton Pride has evolved over the years with more communities coming together to celebrate every aspect of our city, regardless of sexuality, race, gender, age or ability. We are delighted that American Express is on board again this year. Support from Leading Partners is crucial to deliver one of our City’s most lively and best attended events.We hope that more local businesses than ever will get involved and show their support by taking collection tins and publicity posters and help us make Brighton Pride 2016 another record fundraising year.”